Sign



Aug. 30, 1932.

$3 75% BEAQOE W5 [WWI 'r. .1. MICHELSEN 1,874,202

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Filed June 25. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l LETTERS CUT BUT [IF THIS BELT IN VEN TOR.

T. J FHIEHELSEN A T TORNEYS.

Aug. 30, 1932. T. J. MICHELSEN 1,874,202

' smn Filed June 23, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

T. g ITHEHELSEN V A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 30, 1932.

T. J. MlCHELSEN 1,874,202

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 23, 1931 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 PATENTOIFFICE;

'rnoa J. .MICBELSEN, or VENICE} CALIFORNIA SIGN Application fi led Jun 23, I931. Serial in. 546,315.

This invention relates to improvements in signs and has particular reference to a sign wherein a continuous movable color display may be realized. y

Another object is to produce a display wherein several movementsmay be caused to exhibit themselves so as to call attention to the sign. J f

A further object is to produce a sign which maybe either naturally or artificially illuminated. r

A further object is to produce a device which is simple in construction and therefore economical to manufacture. V i V A still further object is to produce a device wherein changes of display may be, readily made.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description. V I V In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure I is afront elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure II is a diagrammatic view showing the belt arrangement; t

Figure III is an enlarged detail cross see- I tional view,

Figure IV is a fragmentary view of a por tion of a colored belt,

Figure V is a diagrammatic View showing the arrangement of the belts during their travel in the machine, and

from. My colored belts are preferably so ar- I ranged that several different colors are incorporated in a single belt, the colors of one portion of the belt fading into the colors of the other portion of the belt thereby causing .a pleasing effect as the letters of' the signs change color.

In the accompanying "drawings wherein for thepurpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my inventiomthe nu- 55 =meral 5 designates a casewithin which is positioned an angularly disposed mirror 6. Positioned above the mirror and carried by the frame are spaced glass plates 7 and 8. By this a rangcmcnt it will be apparent that 50 sunlight may pass through the plates 7 and Sand after striking the mirror 6 will be diverted through the opening9 of the case or if artificial illumination is used such as designated by the bulb 11 the same effect will take place.

At 12-I have shown a transparent colored belt which belt is movable on guides 13 and by referringto Figure V it will be noted that 'a driving roller 23. The belt then passes over aroller 24 thence upwardly and over a roller 26 thus completing itscircuit. 1 An opaque belt 27 also travels in the space between the plates 7, and 8 and is positioned above the belt 12. This belt 27 has letters stamped therefrom so as to provide openings 28 in the belt. The course that this belt takes is also shown in Figure V passing over the 5 rollers 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 and 37. It will herein be noted that during the passing between rollers 33 and34 this roller also "contacts roller 23. At 38 I have shown a colored transparent belt carried by guides 39 no which belt is adapted to travel at higher rate of speed than the other belts before mentioned; At 40 I have shown a colored "transparent belt carried upon supports 42 and traveling at the same speed as the belt 12. us Advertising matter may be placed upon either the glass plates 7 or 8 but for matter of discussion 'we will consider advertising matter is laced upon the plate .7 and at the point A or example, the word Iexaco and lou the sign merely'changes color.

have the impressionthat the red fades into the green in a very pleasing manner.

The operation of my device is as follows Considering each portion of the display separately we will consider that the broken line E represents all the light passing through the belt 41 and through the portion A of the plate and as result as for example, the word Texaco will be reflected by the mirror 6 toward the person viewing the sign and assuming that the belt 41 is travelling in either direction the word Iexaco will appear in various colors depending upon the colors'incor- .porated in the belt and these colors will fade from one to the other in a pleasing. manner. We will now assume that the broken line F represents all the light passing through the belt 38 which belt also is made up of various colored transparent portions and as the same .s moved at higher speed this light passing through the portion B of the plate 7 will strike the mirror 6 and be projected toward the person viewing thesign and as a consequence the arrow will appear in different colors. one color following the next in rapid succession and in a direction to make the eye follow the colors toward the point of the arrow. This impression will be that of shooting arrows.

e will now assume that the broken line G represents all the light passing through the bolts 27 and 12. As the belt 27 is an opaque belt and carries cut-out letters it will be apparent that light can only pass through the cutout portion of the belt thence through the belt 12 and theportion C of the plate 7. Upon striking the mirror the light will be reflected as before mentioned. The belt 27 will travel in a direction opposite to that of the other belts so that the reading matter there on will be easily and naturally brought into view in such a progressive manner that the eye will readily grasp the message sought to be conveyed and due to the fact that the belt 12 is going in the opposite direction a more rapid change of color'will take place and give the appearance that the letters are travelling much faster than is the actual case, therefore by this simple arrangement of belts I have produced a sign wherein one portion of The other portion of the sign gives the impression'of a rapid movement and the other portion of the sign gives the impression of rapidly moving letters which spell out a pre-determined message.

It is obvious that the operation of the device may be reversed in order that the sunlight strikes first the mirror and then passes through the spaced plates and belts, as for instance, if the front of the device were the top and the top of the device was the viewing side this may be illustrated by turning the drawings of Figure 3 so that the inventors name appears at the top of the sheet.

The manner of driving the various belts, is of course immaterial.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim t- 1. In. a display device of the character described, a casing, a diagonally disposed mirror positioned in said casing, a pair of spaced transparent piates positioned in said casing and at an angle of forty-five degrees relative to said mirror, a plurality of transparent belts positioned between said plates and adapted. for relative movement thereto, ind cia formed on one of said plates whereby light passing through said plates and said belts will display said indicia, and an opaque belt movable between said plates and overlying one of said transparent belts whereby indicia on said opaque belt will be visible.

2. In a display device of the character described, a casing, a diagonally disposed mirror positioned in said casing, a pair of spaced transparent plates positioned in saidcasing and at an angle of forty-five de rees relative to said mirror, a plurality of transparent belts positioned between said plates and adapted for relative movement thereto, indicia formed on one of said plates whereby light passing through said plates and said belts will display said indicia, and an opaque belt movable between said plates and over- 

